Chat with Chic, January 9, 1987

Chat with Chic A Report from Washington FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION January 9, 1987 CALL: (702) 885-9111 By U.S. SENATOR CHIC HECHT Well here we go again! The 100th Congress is off and running and at first glance there seems to be little doubt in anyone's mind that politics will be THE dominant factor this time around, particularly in view of the Iran controversy and acute awareness that another Presidential election is about 22 months away. Politics will ensure that this issue will dominate the Congressional horizon for this and possibly all of next year. Consequently, much that needs to be done legislatively, may not get done - - and that's regrettable. During debate immediately following the swearing-in ceremonies, on the establishment of a Special Iran-Contra investigative committee, I agreed wholeheartedly with GOP Minority Leader Dole who said there are too many other problems, both domestic and foreign, that cannot, and should not, be swept aside because of the apparent obsession with the Iranian affair. But, make no mistake about it. An obsession it will be. The Senate, by overwhelming vote, went ahead and created this committee which has until August at the earliest and October at the latest to report its findings. That's most of the new legislative year! The time, energy and attention diverted to this investigation from work that should be done elsewhere will go down as one of the sadder aspects of the 100th Congress. Three other Senators and I voted against this investigative committee. It simply is not needed, largely because the Senate Intelligence Committee, of which I am a member, already has conducted intensive hearings. The Intelligence Committee has questioned key players in the controversy; has investigated various facets of the arms sale and has put together a report of its findings. But what happened next should not have happened. The Committee, on a partisan vote, decided not to release a copy of its findings contending it was not complete and hinted that Watergate-style investigations should be the order of the day. On the Senate floor I questioned establishment of this panel because the Intelligence Committee has 95 percent of the facts which might as well be made public. If the Senate would grant Colonel North and Admiral Poindexter immunity the puzzle would be solved. The controversy should be resolved with dispatch. Let the chips fall where they may so that Congress can get on with the job its supposed to do. Iran-Contra controversy aside, I did manage to reintroduce a couple of bills sidetracked during the closing days of the last session. Senate Bill 59 will transfer 511,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in Nevada to the U.S. Forest Service and 23,000 acres from the USFS to BLM. The swap failed last time around because of a dispute over state/federal control of water rights. I am hopeful the bill in its new form will pass muster. Senate Bill 65, which is appropriately numbered, represents another assault on the current 55 mph speed limit. S. 65 will give Nevada and every other state the right to boost speed limits to 65 mph in rural areas. This is a classic states' rights issue and I continue to believe that state authorities know which roads and highways are capable of being traveled at higher speeds, much better than the so-called experts in Washington. I hope you agree.